Owner wants to turn Waverly Hills into hotel, convention center

The ink is barely dry on a zoning application and development plan to transform the famed, and supposedly haunted, Waverly Hills into a hotel and conference center with a bottling and restaurant facility.

Over the years, Waverly Hills has gone from ruin to beautifully restored. Now that there is talk of making it a hotel and conference center, the question is; if they build it, will they come?

"Well, it's neat. It's a part of Louisville's history, so it's something interesting to go see and be a part of," said James Blevins, who wants to see Waverly built into a hotel.

"I think it will draw a lot of people and a lot of attention just for the so-called fear factor," said Jenny Garrett, who also wants the hotel built.

And that's surely what the owners of Waverly Hills want, as they have just submitted a zoning application and development plan to change the use of Waverly Hills.

"In order to run a hotel, convention center and bottling facility, they are going to need to change the zoning on that site," said Connie Ewing with Metro Planning and Design Services.

And it's a long, five-month process for the 50-plus acres involved in the plan. A plan that includes adding sidewalks, blacktop, parking lots, new utility poles plus additional sewer and water usage that will need Metropolitan Sewer District and Water Company approval.

The Department of Codes and Regulations has to review the request, then conduct public meetings with surrounding property owners.

"Then, ultimately, it will go to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and they will make a recommendation on the change in zoning to Metro Council, who will have the final say," said Ewing.

Then there's the financing of the plan. Would it come through grants, tax breaks, generous donors or all of the above?

But the public's response is pretty clear. If it's built, they will come.

"Absolutely, it's a part of Louisville's history and you got to experience what's here and take it in," said Blevins.

"Probably be kind of cool," said Lakiesha Burkley, who wants the hotel built. "I would go because I'm the scary movie type, so I would go."

If some of the financial hurdles can be overcome and some of the planning and zoning can workout, it seems that people in Louisville and probably outside of the state would come to take part in the hotel and conference center.